She / Her

Tabby is a Pākehā queer femme. She has been working in rainbow communities since she was 15 and founded InsideOUT in 2012 with a passion for making Aotearoa a better place for rainbow rangatahi. Tabby has a degree in Counselling and Addictions and alongside her role with us works part-time as a counsellor for our rainbow communities

They / Them / ia

Atirau is a mokopuna of Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Rongowhakaata & Ngāti Porou of te Tairāwhiti (East Coast). They are a kaiako of te reo Māori utilising creative approaches to (re)awaken the language of this whenua within the hearts and minds of all who have a desire to learn. Their mahi with Kōaro InsideOUT will go towards supporting, affirming and celebrating rangatahi takatāpui+ within Kura Kaupapa and the development and delivery of our training to kaupapa Māori services.

She / Her

Rosie is a Pākehā queer femme with English, Irish and Scottish ancestry who was lucky enough to grow up in the hills of Ngaio in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. She studied sociology and public health in Ōtepoti. She is passionate about work that focuses on the stories that people inherit about identity, and how these inform how people engage with the world and themselves. She enjoys reading and watching all sorts of queer stuff, doing karaoke with mates and being near any kind of water!

They / Them

June is a Pākehā, disabled nonbinary person who grew up and lives in Te Whanganui-a-tara. They have volunteered with InsideOUT at Shift Hui since 2018, and have a background in illustration, graphic design, as well as teaching rangatahi. They are passionate about making queer spaces accessible, and helping young people to have the safety and freedom they deserve. In their free time, June loves spending time in the garden, playing cosy games, and creating things, especially printmaking, painting, and sewing.

He / Him / Dia

Red is an Indonesian trans guy based in Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta. With a background in hospitality, he started as a volunteer with InsideOUT before further pursuing work for rainbow community development. He is driven to contribute to a future that would benefit their younger queer self. Aside from an interest in great food and coffee, he is also a newbie drummer and budding lifter. Outside of work or the gym, you’ll find him supporting local bands and musicians.

She / They

Ko Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-a-Apanui me Ngāi Tahu ōku iwi. Tokotoru āku tamariki who are the coolest humans. As a child, I wanted to be like Eliza from Wild Thornberry’s. As an adult, my whānau and I reside in our motorhome and it has been brought to my attention that I am more like Nigel. I am deeply passionate about te ao Māori, kaupapa Māori, decolonisation and social justice. My whānau can be found traveling the motu to attend kura reo and anything related to our passions. I’m excited to be working alongside kura kaupapa to support rangatahi takatāpui.

They / Them

Jaz is a queer pākehā based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. With a background in sociology & gender studies, their mahi intertwines with their passions of interrupting social injustice, emboldening queer liberation, and fostering radical harm reduction. Jaz was born & raised in Te Waiharakeke and is at their best when dancing, spending time with nature, or connecting with their niblings. Jaz has worked as an education facilitator for almost 5 years delivering advocacy and education for rainbow communities across Aotearoa and is proudly tangata tiriti with a core focus on decolonisation mahi. They also love tattoos, beech forests, mid-century interiors, fashion and drag performance.

She / Her

Saviiey is a Fa’afafine who has been involved in many youth development, education, and performing arts initiatives. She is a massive advocate for the Māori and Pasifika Rainbow community of Porirua. Saviiey is the current recipient of the Aniva Arts Residency through Creative NZ and is also the Chairman of Ngā Uri o Whiti Te Rā Mai Le Moana Trust. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Māori Performing Arts and Primary Education through Te Wānanga o Raukawa, and a Master’s in Education through Victoria University.

They / Them

Meihana is a takatāpui (Kāi Tahu and Kati Mamoe), non-binary person who is passionate about working within the queer community as co-chair for Dunedin Pride and advocating for LGBTQIA+ rangatahi. Originally from Kāpiti, they moved to Ōtepoti in 2018 for University and loved it so much they never left. Meihana enjoys curling up on the couch with their cat and a book or some crochet (usually watching Grey’s Anatomy or Taskmaster), as well as exploring the wonderful nature Aotearoa has to offer!

He / Him

Alex has been involved with InsideOUT since 2014 as a volunteer, board member and facilitator, and now supports the organisation’s resource development. He is currently studying towards his PhD and has worked on various community-based studies on improving the health and wellbeing of queer and trans communities in Aotearoa.

She / Her / They / Them / Ia

Danae is a queer, neurodivergent Pākeha person living in the Mataatua rohe on whenua raupatu of Ngāti Awa. Their one true love is eke ngaru (surfing) and they’re dedicated to making surfing accessible. They have a diverse work history including reo Māori broadcasting on iwi radio, flying aeroplanes, teaching te reo Māori to fellow disabled folk, Parliamentary politics and pūtaiao outreach with schools and marae around Te Ika a Māui. They are happiest on the waves, in the air or at home playing video games while their dogs wonder why they’re not receiving Danae’s undivided attention!

She / They

Zenica (Ngāti Kahu), or Zen, was once a proud Aucklander but has been lovingly humbled after moving to Whanganui a few years ago! Zen is a visual artist and a parent to a very cool small human, and has particular interest in decolonisation, queer liberation, youth development and support, and suicide prevention. Despite the nickname, Zen is often zero chill and all enthusiasm, especially when it comes to… well, most things really. Aroha mai, aroha atu!

He / They

Jules is a Trans-Masc Nonbinary performer, producer and artist. Jules has lived all over Aotearoa (and some of Australia) and is now based in Manawatū. They have a BA in Theatre and film and are passionate about intersectional representation in media and the arts especially under the rainbow and trans umbrellas. He likes to use theatre, film and comedy to create bridges of understanding to convey, represent and maybe translate queer and neurodiverse experiences. Jules likes to play music, video games and craft/draw when free as well as being an avid baker.   

They / Them

Mason is a non-binary queer pākehā registered social worker. Born and raised in Ōtautahi, they love Te Waipounamu and photographing nature that catches their eye around the motu. You will often find them wherever the animals are in any given situation or reading a good book cuddled up with their cat and two dogs. They are passionate about intersectionality and the beauty that each person’s diverse and interconnected identity brings to the world.

She / Her

Lara is a Two-spirit person, originally from Seattle, Washington, USA, though she grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Montana.  She spent her childhood summers fancy dancing at powwows across Montana. In 2003 she moved across the world to Australia, later settling in Aotearoa in 2010.  She followed in her sister’s footsteps and completed a Masters of Social Work (Applied) in 2016, but also has a teaching degree, and a post grad in German language and literature.  When she started her professional life, she went into youth work, inspired by the amazing work her mother did with young people while she was growing up. She now lives by the sea, has have five cats (one accidentally), two parrots, and one husband!  On her days off she can be found tending to her garden…on Stardew Valley, playing a board or card game, reading a book, or listening to a podcast in the spa.

They / Them

Meihana is a takatāpui (Kāi Tahu and Kati Mamoe), non-binary person who is passionate about working within the queer community as co-chair for Dunedin Pride and advocating for LGBTQIA+ rangatahi. Originally from Kāpiti, they moved to Ōtepoti in 2018 for University and loved it so much they never left. Meihana enjoys curling up on the couch with their cat and a book or some crochet (usually watching Grey’s Anatomy or Taskmaster), as well as exploring the wonderful nature Aotearoa has to offer!